My dearest wife was like this maid,
And such my daughter might have been.
SHAKESPEARE.
The reader may be surprised at the positive and dictatorial language of
Mr John Forster, relative to Newton's marriage, as detailed in a former
chapter; but, as Mr John Forster truly observed, all the recompense
which he had to expect for a life of exertion was to dispose of the
fruits of his labour according to his own will. This he felt, and he
considered it unreasonable that what he supposed a boyish attachment on
the part of Newton was to overthrow all his preconcerted arrangements.
Had Mr Forster been able to duly appreciate the feelings of his nephew,
he probably would not have been so decided; but Love had never been able
to establish himself as an inmate of his breast. His life had been a
life of toil. Love associates with idleness and ease. Mr Forster was
kind and cordial to his nephew as before, and the subject was not again
renewed; nevertheless, he had made up his mind, and having stated that
he would alter his will, such was his intention, provided that his
nephew did not upon mature reflection accede to his wishes. Newton once
more enjoyed the society of Isabel, to whom he imparted all that had
occurred. "I do not wish to play the prude," answered Isabel, "by
denying that I am distressed at your uncle's decision; to say that I
will never enter into his family without having received his consent, is
saying more than my feelings will bear out; but I must and will say,
that I shall be most unwilling so to do. We must, therefore, as Madame
de Fontanges did with the pirate captain, temporise, and I trust we
shall be as successful." Newton, more rational than most young men in
love, agreed with Isabel on the propriety of the measure, and, satisfied
with each other's attachment, they were by no means in a hurry to
precipitate their marriage.
It may be recollected that Newton Forster felt convinced that the
contents of the trunk which he picked up at sea, when mate of the
coasting vessel, was the property of the Marquis de Fontanges, during
their passage home in the Windsor Castle, he had renewed the subject to
Monsieur de Fontanges, and from the description which he gave from
memory, the latter appeared to be of the same opinion. The conversation
had not been revived until some time after their arrival in England,
when Newton, anxious to restore the articles, desired Monsieur de
Fontanges to communicate with the marquis, and request that he would
appoint a day upon which he would call at his uncle's and identify the
property. The marquis, who had never been informed by Monsieur de
Fontanges, that any supposed relics of his lost wife remained, sighed at
the memory of his buried happiness--buried in that vast grave, which
defrauds the earth of its inherent rights--and consented to call upon
the ensuing day. When the marquis arrived, accompanied by Monsieur and
Madame de Fontanges, he was received in the drawing-room by Mr John
Forster, who had brought from his chamber the packet in question, which
had remained locked up in the iron safe ever since Newton had first
committed it to his charge. After their introduction to each other, the
marquis observed, in English--
"I am giving you a great deal of trouble; unavailing indeed; for,
allowing that the articles should prove to be mine, the sight of them
must be a source of renewed misery."
"Sir," replied Mr John Forster, "the property does not belong to my
nephew, and he has very properly reserved it until he could find out the
legal owner. If the property is yours, we are bound to deliver it into
your hands. There is an inventory attached to it," continued the old
lawyer, putting on his spectacles, and reading, "one diamond ring--but
perhaps it would be better that I should open the packet."
"Will you permit me to look at the diamond ring, sir?" observed Monsieur
de Fontanges. "The sight of that will identify the whole."
"There it is, sir," replied Mr John Forster.
"It is, indeed, that of my poor sister-in-law!" said Monsieur de
Fontanges, taking it up to the marquis. "My brother, it is Louise's
ring!"
"It is," cried the marquis, passionately, "the ring that I placed in the
centre of her _corbeille de mariage_. Alas! where is the hand which
graced it?" and the marquis retreated to the sofa, and covered his face.
"We have no occasion then to proceed further," observed Mr John
Forster, with emotion. "The other articles you of course recognise?"
"I do," replied Monsieur de Fontanges. "My brother had taken his
passage in the same vessel, but was countermanded. Before he had time
to select all his own baggage, which was mixed with that of his wife,
the ship was blown out to sea, and proceeded on her voyage. These
orders of merit were left with her jewels."
"I observe," said the old lawyer, "which I did not when Newton entrusted
the packet to my charge, that the linen has not all the same marks; that
of the adult is marked L de M, while that which belonged to the child is
marked J de F. Was it the marquis's child?"
"It was; the linen of the in other was some belonging to her previous to
her marriage. The maiden name was Louise de Montmorenci; that of the
child has the initials of its name, Julie de Fontanges."
"Humph! I have my reasons for asking that question," replied the old
lawyer. "Newton, do me the favour to step to my chambers and open the
safe. You will find in it, on the right hand side, another small bundle
of linen: bring it here. Stop, Newton, blow the dust out of the pipe of
the key before you put it in, and be careful that it is well inserted
before you turn it, or you may strain the wards. In all other points,
you may be as quick as you please. My Lord Marquis, will you allow me
to offer you some refreshment?--a glass of wine will be of service.
Brother Nicholas, do me the favour to call Amber." Newton and Nicholas
both departed on their respective missions. Amber made her appearance.
"Papa," said Amber, "do you want me?"
"Yes, my dear," said Mr Forster, handing her the keys, "go down to the
cellaret and bring up some wine. I do not wish the servants to come in
just now."
Amber reappeared with a small tray. She first handed it to the marquis,
who roused at her voice.
"Papa requests that you will take some wine, sir. It will be of service
to you."
The marquis, who had looked earnestly in her face when she had spoken,
took the wine, and drinking it off, bowed as he replaced the glass. He
then sunk back on the sofa.
When the rap at the door announced the return of Newton, Mr John
Forster requested Monsieur de Fontanges, in a low voice, to follow him,
and directing Newton, whom they met on the stairs, to return, they
proceeded to the dining-parlour.
"I have requested you to come down, sir," said Mr John Forster, "that I
might not, without being certain, raise hopes in your brother the
marquis, which, if not realised, would create bitter feelings of
disappointment; but I remarked the initials on the linen of the child;
and if my memory, which is not very bad, fails me not, we shall find
corresponding ones in the packet now before us;" and the old lawyer
opened the bundle and displayed the contents, which proved to be marked
as he had surmised.
"Most true," replied Monsieur de Fontanges. "They are the same, and of
course part of the property which was picked up."
"Yes; but not picked up at the same time, or at the same spot, or by the
same person. Those above stairs were, as you know, picked up by my
nephew; these by a brother, who is since dead; and in these clothes an
infant was also washed upon the beach."
"His child!" exclaimed Monsieur de Fontanges. "Where was it buried?"
"The child was restored to life, and is still living."
"If it is," replied Monsieur de Fontanges, "it can be no other than the
young lady who just now called you father. The likeness to Madame la
Marquise is most astonishing."
"It is as you suppose, sir," replied Mr John Forster. "At my brother's
death, he bequeathed the little girl to my protection; and I trust I
have done justice to the deposit. Indeed, although an alien by blood,
she is as dear to me as if she were my own daughter; and," continued the
old lawyer, hesitating a little, "although I have the satisfaction of
restoring her to her father's arms, it will be a heavy blow to part with
her! When my brother spoke to me on the subject, I told him it was
trouble and expense enough to bring up a child of one's own begetting.
I little thought at the time how much more I should be vexed at parting
with one of another's. However, with the bundle she must be returned to
the lawful owner. I have one more remark to make, sir. Do me the
favour to look at that drawing of my poor brother's, which hangs over
the sideboard. Do you recognise the portrait?"
"Triton!" cried Monsieur de Fontanges; "the dog which I gave my poor
sister-in-law!"
"You are indebted to that dog for the life of your niece. He brought
her on shore, and laid her at my brother's feet; but I have all the
documents, which I will send for your perusal. The facts I consider so
well established as to warrant a verdict in any court of justice; and
now, sir, I must leave you to make the communication as soon, and, at
the same time, as cautiously as you please. Newton, send Amber down to
me."
We will pass over the scenes which followed in the dining-parlour and
drawing-room. The Marquis de Fontanges discovered that he was blessed
with a daughter, at the same time that Amber learnt her own history. In
a few minutes Amber was led up stairs to the arms of her father, whose
tears of sorrow at the loss of his wife were now mingled with those of
delight, as he clasped his daughter to his heart.
"What obligations do I owe to your whole family, my dear friend!" said
the marquis to Newton.
"I will not deny it, sir," replied Newton; "but allow me to observe,
that for the recovery of your daughter you are equally indebted to the
generosity of your own relatives and your own feeling disposition. Had
not Monsieur and Madame de Fontanges protected and assisted me in my
distress; had not you, instead of throwing me into prison, set me at
liberty, you never would have known where your daughter was to be found.
Had not one of my uncles hastened to the relief of the vessel in
distress, and the other protected your little girl after his death, she
would not have been now in existence. My gratitude for your kindness
induced me to remain by your ship, and subsequently to rescue you from
the pirate, or you would not have now been a prisoner in this country--
an evil which, under divine Providence, has been changed to a blessing,
by restoring to you your daughter. We have all, I trust, done our duty,
and this happy issue is our full reward."
"Humph!" observed the old lawyer.